Inspired by the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to play bowls? Good! You’re in the right place.

Firstly, congratulations on clicking the link to this page. You’ve just taken your first step on the road to fully embracing the joy that is bowls. Much like any great sport, your road ahead will be paved with many great highs – the first time you lay one right on the jack; winning a game with the last bowl of the day – and maybe the occasional low, but that’s just sport!

What we can guarantee, is that bowls bring fun, excitement, tension and jeopardy, all wrapped up in a community sport that is truly accessible for all. So, if you, like many others before you, are open to catching the bowls bug (we’ve heard it’s extremely contagious), keep reading to see how you can go from noticing an interesting new sport on TV to strolling onto your local bowls green, ready to take to the mat and never look back.

Getting Started

There are several ways you can Get Involved in the sport of bowls. Whether you want to find your nearest club and dive straight into competitive matches, have a friendly Sunday afternoon roll-up with the family or dip your toe in by watching the best bowlers in the country at the National Bowls Finals, we have you covered.

To find your nearest club and get on the green within minutes, use our bespoke Club Finder and ‘Pay-to-Play’ platforms, Play-Bowls.com. Click the link below and you’ll be rolling your first bowl in no time.

Another great way to learn the sport is to watch the very best play it. Book tickets to one day or more of our 2026 National Bowls Finals and see a mix of international stars and top club players battle end-to-end to claim a coveted national championship. It really is the biggest event of our domestic season, and one that is not to be missed.

Play Bowls | Club Finder
National Bowls Finals | Grab Your Tickets

Still not convinced? Here a five reasons to Get Involved:

  • Bowls is Accessible: Whatever your physical ability, bowls is a sport for everybody and it will help to improve your fitness levels and mental wellbeing.
  • Bowls is Relatively Cheap: To get going, you don’t need lots of new kit and clubs put on taster sessions and open days for free. Even when you get the bug, a set of bowls and joining a club can cost as little as £90. Not bad for what we hope will be a lifelong investment.
  • Bowls has the third most clubs of any sport in England: With so many places to play, it’ll take no time at all to get to a bowls club close to your home.
  • Compared to most sports, age and gender differences have less of an effect on a game of bowls: It is the perfect game to play with all of the family. Husband and wife. Mother and son. Grandad and granddaughter.
  • Bowls is a social sport: It is a great way to relax, make new friends with a common interest and to become part of a thriving community.

Learn Our Sport

It’s normal to feel slightly apprehensive about starting something new, but bowls is a sport that is easy to take up. The rules of the game are relatively simple, the basic technique is not complex and you don’t need lots of new kit. What is there not to love?

The Rules of the Game
It’ll take you no time to figure out the basic rules of bowls.

Bowls is played on a square of grass called a green, which is divided into lanes called rinks. Players take turns to deliver their bowls from a mat at one end of the rink towards a small white target ball, often referred to as the ’jack’, situated near the other end. The bowls are shaped so that they take a curved path towards the jack, known as the bias.

The aim of the game is to get your bowls closest to the jack. One point is given for each bowl nearer the jack than the nearest bowl of your opponent. For example, if you or your team has three bowls closer to the jack than your opponent’s nearest bowl then you will score three for that end.

Each game is split into individual ends. After playing all the bowls in one direction and agreeing the score, the next end is played back down the rink in the opposite direction. The winner of the previous end will cast the jack.

There are different formats of the game. You can play singles or as part of a team, and a match can vary in lengths.  The winner can either be the one who has scored the most shots after a specified number of ends or the first to reach a designated score.

The Basic Technique
The sport of bowls takes a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. The action required to deliver a bowl is based on a fairly natural physical movement and your first shot could be every bit as good as a world champion.

Every bowler’s delivery is slightly different, but you can’t go too far wrong, and no-one’s going to laugh at you whilst you’re getting the hang of it. Once you have got the basic delivery sussed, you’ll be hooked on getting consistently close to the jack. Here’s a basic guide to help beginners get started. If you have a physical disability, you may need to adopt a different approach.

The Position on the mat and Stance

Before delivery you should stand on the mat. Face forward with your feet pointing towards the jack, but to one side of it depending which way you are planning to curve the bowl. The bowl should feel comfortable in your favoured hand and be placed outside the hip to enable an unimpeded backswing. You should be looking where you’re aiming.

The Delivery

Most players combine a forward stride with their backswing. On completion of your backswing, then swing your arm forwards while bending your knees so, at the moment of release, the hand holding the bowl is almost touching the ground. This helps the bowl roll smoothly. At the moment of delivery, make sure one of your feet is on the mat. Simple as that!

The Bias

Oh yes, the bias is the slightly tricky bit! The bias is the shape of the bowl that makes it turn. To make it easy, bowls have a large disc one side and a small disc on the other. The bowl curves towards the side with the smaller disc. So, if you are a right hander holding the bowl with the small disc on the side nearest their thumb, the bowl will curve from left to right so you need to aim to the left of the jack.

The Kit
FAQs
What clothes should I wear?And what footwear?Do I need a set of bowls?
The image of players dressed in ‘whites’ is far from the reality these days. For newcomers playing social bowls, the dress code is usually relaxed and whatever makes you feel comfortable. A t-shirt or polo shirt, together with tracksuit bottoms, shorts or jeans would be our suggestion.

If you start playing more competitively and go on to represent your club, it is likely you will be asked to buy some club kit so you look part of the team.

If you’re looking for kit, we recommend our official clothing partner, Aceit – you can find their range here.

To help keep the playing surface in good condition, it’s important to wear a pair of flat-soled shoes. A pair of trainers usually does the trick.
Most clubs will have bowls available for newcomers to use free of charge. Once you have decided to take up the game, you may wish to invest in a set of bowls.

Bowls come in sets of four and each is identical. You can choose different sizes and weights depending on your hand size and physique, and even pick your favourite colour!

You can pick up a suitable set for under £50 second hand, or from around £250 if you splash out on a new set – that’s less than the price of a decent golf club! Sets can last a lifetime and so it works out very reasonably in the long run.

Not sure how to distinguish between a green and a rink. Consult our ‘Lingo Guide’ and become an expert at ‘talking bowls’ overnight!

Learn the Lingo

Bowling With a Disability

Bowls is one of the most inclusive sports you can play. At Bowls England, we are determined to make bowls accessible to everyone. Bowls is truly a sport for all – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or ability – and we are actively working to grow participation among disabled players. Whether you’re aiming for the international stage or simply enjoy a friendly roll-up, we’re here to help you get the most from the sport.

Disability Open Days

A cornerstone of our programme is our series of Disability Open Days. These events welcome local individuals, disability groups, and community organisations to explore the sport in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Visitors can try bowls first‑hand, learn about the game, and experience how accessible it can be. Experts from across the bowls community are on hand to demonstrate adaptive equipment, offer friendly guidance, and support anyone who would like to give the sport a go—whether they’re complete beginners or returning players.

It’s a relaxed, enjoyable way to discover the possibilities of inclusive bowls and connect with others in the community.

Look out for our Disability Open Days in 2027!

Our Para International Heroes

Competition

We are proud to offer dedicated Para competitions that truly showcase the brilliance and talent of our para bowlers. Beginning with regional qualifiers that bring out the very best in our players, these events highlight exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and determination across all abilities.  Those who qualify then go on to experience the thrill of competing at the National Finals in Royal Leamington Spa—an unforgettable highlight of the bowls calendar. Our para competitions stand as a powerful celebration of inclusivity, ability and excellence within our sport.

Visit our ‘Bowling with a Disability’ page to dig deeper into all of the ways you can Get Involved in disability bowls:

Bowling with a Disability Home Page
Glasgow 2026 | About
Bowls England Home Page

 

 

 

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